STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2751

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2422

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2422, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow Department of Education employees to volunteer to administer auto-injectable epinephrine to students in anaphylactic shock; provided that the student's parent or guardian has provided written authorization and certain conditions are met.

     The measure also appropriates funds to the Department of Education for instruction, training, and related expenses.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Walgreens.  Written comments on this measure were submitted by Mylan Inc.

     The measure requires that prior to any emergency administration of epinephrine via an auto-injectable vaccine can occur at a Department of Education school, the student's parent or guardian must provide the department with written certification from the student's physician or physician assistant, stating that the student has medical orders that epinephrine may be administered by a volunteer.  Furthermore, any employee or agent who volunteers to administer epinephrine is required to have received instruction in the proper administration of the drug.

     Your Committee finds that a high number of children suffer from some type of allergy.  Some allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, can be life-threatening and can occur at any time.  The administration of an epinephrine injection to treat life-threatening allergic reactions has become an accepted medical practice for children who suffer from major allergic reactions.  Your Committee believes that allowing Department of Education employees and their agents to volunteer to administer epinephrine to students in anaphylactic shock is critical to the health and well-being of children while they are attending school.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the appropriation amount to an unspecified sum.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2422, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2422, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair